"National Hunt racing In horse racing in the United Kingdom, France and Ireland, National Hunt racing requires horses to jump fences and ditches. National Hunt racing in the UK is informally known as ""jumps"" and is divided into two major distinct branches: hurdles and steeplechases. Alongside these there are ""bumpers"", which are National Hunt flat races. In a hurdles race, the horses jump over obstacles called hurdles; in a steeplechase the horses jump over a variety of obstacles that can include plain fences, water jump or an open ditch. In the UK the biggest National Hunt events of the year"
"National Hunt flat race National Hunt Flat races were created on 15 July, 1891 when a conference between the stewards of the British and Irish National Hunt Committees decided to abolish the distinction between the hunter and handicap horses and created a new amalgamated rule: In modern days the National Hunt Flat races are designed for horses who have not previously ran under any other form of racing except National Hunt flat or French AQPS races and in Great Britain are restricted to horses aged 7 years or less. They are used by trainers to give horses experience on a"
"both National Hunt and Flat races, however, the weight allowance for Flat is lower than that of National Hunt. A valid Flat or National Hunt licence must be held to ride in either type of race. Point-to-point races are open only to non-professional jockeys, who must register as ""Qualified Riders"" but need not meet the requirements for Flat or National Hunt licences. The Turf Club is responsible for licensing trainers. There are over 700 licensed trainers in the country, the majority of which are licensed to train horses for both Flat and National Hunt, although they usually specialise in one."
"racing, while in England it is more balanced, but the different seasons (there is little top-class flat racing in Britain from November to March) mean that most fans of the sport can enjoy both forms of racing. National Hunt horses are often bred for jumping, while others are former flat horses. National Hunt horses do not have to be Thoroughbreds: many French-bred jumpers are Selle Français or AQPS. Many horses begin their racing careers in amateur Point-to-Pointing where they compete over steeplechase races of three miles. The two main highlights of the National Hunt calendar are the Cheltenham Festival meeting"
"flat races and marks the end of the National Hunt racing season in Great Britain. Other events at this meeting include the Celebration Chase, the Gordon Richards Stakes and the Sandown Mile. Most successful horse (2 wins): Leading jockey (3 wins): Leading trainer (7 wins): The 1973 edition was run at Newcastle over 3 miles and 6 furlongs. Proud Tarquin (1974), Cahervillahow (1991) and Givus a Buck (1993) all finished first but were disqualified following a Stewards' Enquiry. Bet365 Gold Cup The Bet365 Gold Cup is a Grade 3 National Hunt steeplechase in Great Britain which is open to horses"
"town of Newmarket is considered the centre of English racing, largely because of the famous Newmarket Racecourse. The two forms of horseracing in the United Kingdom are National Hunt, which involves jumping over fences or hurdles, and the more glamorous flat racing. National Hunt is a winter sport and flat racing is a summer sport, but the seasons are very long and they overlap. In flat racing the three races which make up the Triple Crown are the 2,000 Guineas, The Derby, and the St. Leger Stakes. Other leading flat races include the 1,000 Guineas and The Oaks, and these"
"Flat racing Flat racing is a form of horse racing which is run on a level racecourse. It is run over a predetermined distance from up to and is either test of speed, stamina, or both, whilst the skills of the jockey is determined by his ability to restrain the horse or impel it. Flat racing does not require horses to jump over any obstacles such as is required for hurdling or steeplechase. It differs from harness racing where horses are pulling a sulky and wear a harness. While in many countries flat racing is the most common form of"
"few additional classes offered for horses shown in-hand or on the flat. Flat classes often consist of complete connection between the horse and the rider, making the task appear effortless. In the United Kingdom, competition over fences is called ""Working Hunter,"" and the term ""Show Hunter"" describes classes held on the flat. The show hunter should have a balanced frame, where they are ‘round’ in their top line and ‘on the bit’ softly. They should have a long, sweeping step that covers maximum ground per minimum effort, and have a rhythmic, 12' stride at the canter. Ideally, the majority of"
"contrast to ""hurdle"" races where the obstacles are much smaller. The collective term ""jump racing"" or ""National Hunt racing"" is used when referring to steeplechases and hurdle races collectively (although, properly speaking, National Hunt racing also includes some flat races). Elsewhere in the world, ""steeplechase"" is used to refer to any race that involves jumping obstacles. The most famous steeplechase in the world is the Grand National run annually at Aintree Racecourse, in Liverpool, since its inception in 1836 (the official race was held three years later), which in 2014 offered a prize fund of £1 million. The steeplechase originated"
"Nickel Coin Mares' Standard Open NH Flat Race The Nickel Coin Mares' Standard Open NH Flat Race is a Grade 2 National Hunt flat race in Great Britain which is open to fillies and mares aged four to six years. It is run at Aintree over a distance of about 2 miles and 1 furlong , and it is scheduled to take place each year during the Grand National meeting in early April. The race is named after Nickel Coin, the winner of the 1951 Grand National and the most recent mare to win the Grand National. The race was"
"Hunt seat Hunt seat is a style of forward seat riding commonly found in North American horse shows. Along with dressage, it is one of the two classic forms of English riding. The hunt seat is based on the tradition of fox hunting. Hunt seat competition in North America includes both flat and over fences for show hunters, which judge the horse's movement and form, and equitation classes, which judge the rider's ability both on the flat and over fences. The term ""hunt seat"" may also refer to ""any"" form of forward seat riding, including the kind seen in show"
"UK, Ireland, France and parts of Central Europe, but only a minor sport or completely unknown in most other regions of the world. National Hunt flat races (or ""bumpers"") without fences or hurdles are also staged to provide experience for horses which have not taken part in flat racing. In the world's major Thoroughbred racing countries, breeding of racehorses is a huge industry providing over a million jobs worldwide. While the attention of horseracing fans and the media is focused almost exclusively on the horse's performance on the racetrack or for male horses, possibly its success as a sire, little"
"Champion Standard Open NH Flat Race The Champion Standard Open NH Flat Race is a Grade 2 National Hunt flat race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four to six years. It is run at Aintree over a distance of about 2 miles and 1 furlong (3,420 metres), and it is scheduled to take place each year during the Grand National meeting in early April. The event was established in 1987, and it was given Grade 2 status in 1995. It was sponsored by John Smith's from 2005 to 2013 and by Weatherbys Private Bank since 2014."
"first run in 2005 with Listed status, then was promoted to Grade 2 in 2016. Nickel Coin Mares' Standard Open NH Flat Race The Nickel Coin Mares' Standard Open NH Flat Race is a Grade 2 National Hunt flat race in Great Britain which is open to fillies and mares aged four to six years. It is run at Aintree over a distance of about 2 miles and 1 furlong , and it is scheduled to take place each year during the Grand National meeting in early April. The race is named after Nickel Coin, the winner of the 1951"
"a small circuit of specialty racing for mules. Flat racing Flat racing is a form of horse racing which is run on a level racecourse. It is run over a predetermined distance from up to and is either test of speed, stamina, or both, whilst the skills of the jockey is determined by his ability to restrain the horse or impel it. Flat racing does not require horses to jump over any obstacles such as is required for hurdling or steeplechase. It differs from harness racing where horses are pulling a sulky and wear a harness. While in many countries"
"the flat, a derby or top hat is traditional. When jumping, however, tradition gives way to safety and most riders use a modern equestrian helmet, which is often mandatory equipment in competition rules. The saddle seat variation of English sidesaddle, seen almost exclusively in the United States in certain breed shows, allows riders to emulate the ""Park"" riders who rode flashy, high-stepping horses on the flat, often literally in public parks. The sidesaddle is essentially the same, and the rider may wear almost the same attire as the ""hunt"" version, an apron with breeches underneath, but with a coat having"
"(NH and flat) meeting in Ireland; Punchestown Festival – the Irish equivalent of the Cheltenham Festival; The Tingle Creek at Sandown Park Racecourse; the Scottish Grand National at Ayr Racecourse; the King George VI Chase at Kempton Park Racecourse; the Welsh National at Chepstow Racecourse; and the Irish National at Fairyhouse Racecourse. National Hunt racing originated in Ireland, particularly in the southern counties. Early races were mainly two-horse contests known as ""pounding races"" that became popular in the early 18th century. These involved long trips across country where horses were required to jump whatever obstacles the landscape threw in their"
"Champion INH Flat Race The Champion INH Flat Race is a Grade 1 National Hunt flat race in Ireland for amateur riders which is open to horses aged four to seven years. It is run at Punchestown over a distance of about 2 miles and ½ furlong , and it is scheduled to take place each year during the Punchestown Festival in late April or early May. The event was sponsored by the bookmaker Paddy Power from 1999 to 2011, by betchronicle.com in 2012, Betdaq in 2013 and by attheraces from 2014 to 2016. The current sponsor is the Racing"
"horse race, was only given Listed status for its inaugural running in 1996. National Hunt racing in Europe has an equivalent grading system where the races are known as Grade 1, Grade 2, Grade 3 and Listed races respectively. This takes place independently of the European Pattern system above, which applies only to flat races. In North America, the equivalent are known as Graded stakes races. Unlike in some other countries, handicap races can be included in the North American and Australian grading system; although most graded stakes races in North America and Group races in Australia are conditions races,"
"the deep, more upright position of dressage riders, a discipline that focuses on flat work does not incorporate jumping in competition. These activities are all differentiated from saddle seat-style English riding, which is an American-based discipline confined to the flat, developed for high-action show horses that are not intended to be shown over fences. Horses used in hunter over fences and hunter under saddle (or ""flat"", non-jumping) classes are called show hunters, and are judged on their movement, way of going, manners, and jumping form. Conformation is judged to some extent as well. Thus, smooth, quiet-moving, well-built horses with good"
"every time"". Albertas Run Albertas Run (foaled 23 April 2001) was an Irish-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse who competed in National Hunt races. He won two National Hunt Flat races and became a successful hurdler, winning the National Hunt Novices' Handicap Hurdle Final and the John Smith's Extra Cold Handicap Hurdle in 2007. He became more successful as a Steeplechaser, winning four Grade I races: the Royal and SunAlliance Chase, the Melling Chase and two runnings of the Ryanair Chase. His other wins included the Reynoldstown Novices' Chase, the Amlin 1965 Chase and the Old Roan Chase. Albertas Run is a"
"and hunt seat world, pleasure-type classes where the horses are not to jump are sometimes referred to as ""flat"" classes or ""Hunter under saddle."" In a variation on the pleasure class known as Hunter hack, riders may also be asked to have their horses jump two low jumps and back up. Show hack classes do not require jumping, but instead ask the horse to perform collected, regular, and extended versions of the walk, trot and canter, plus the hand gallop, usually attired in Dressage style equipment. In American Saddlebred breed competition, pleasure classes for five-gaited horses are sometimes offered, and"
"the world are run on a synthetic or all-weather surface, generally a blend of sand with synthetic fiber and/or rubber, often coated with wax or a similar substance. Flat races in Great Britain are run over a variety of distances from five furlongs () to over and are generally called sprints, middle distance, or stayers races. In Great Britain (and the majority of Europe), flat racing is split into two distinctive bands, conditions races and handicaps. Classic Races – In British horse racing, the classics are a series of horse races run over the flat (i.e. without jumps). Each classic"
"running against males. These races are called conditions races and offer the biggest purses. There is another category of races called handicap races where each horse is assigned a different weight to carry based on its ability. Beside the weight they carry, horses' performance can also be influenced by position relative to the inside barrier (post position), gender, jockey, and training. Jump (or jumps) racing in Great Britain and Ireland is known as National Hunt racing (although, confusingly, National Hunt racing also includes flat races taking place at jumps meetings; these are known as National Hunt flat races). Jump racing"
"Albertas Run Albertas Run (foaled 23 April 2001) was an Irish-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse who competed in National Hunt races. He won two National Hunt Flat races and became a successful hurdler, winning the National Hunt Novices' Handicap Hurdle Final and the John Smith's Extra Cold Handicap Hurdle in 2007. He became more successful as a Steeplechaser, winning four Grade I races: the Royal and SunAlliance Chase, the Melling Chase and two runnings of the Ryanair Chase. His other wins included the Reynoldstown Novices' Chase, the Amlin 1965 Chase and the Old Roan Chase. Albertas Run is a dark-coated bay"
"are generally considered to be the Grand National at Aintree and the Cheltenham Gold Cup. Most of the National Hunt season takes place in the winter when the softer ground makes jumping less dangerous. The horses are much cheaper, as the majority are geldings and have no breeding value. This makes the sport more popular as the horses are not usually retired at such a young age and thus become familiar to the racing public over a number of seasons. Jump racing is most popular in Britain, Ireland and France. In Ireland the sport receives much higher attendances than flat"
"Royal Hunt Cup The Royal Hunt Cup is a flat handicap horse race in Great Britain open to horses aged three years or older. It is run at Ascot over a distance of 1 mile (1,609 metres), and it is scheduled to take place each year in June. The event was established in 1843, and it was originally contested on a right-handed course over 7 furlongs and 166 yards. The inaugural running was won by Knight of the Whistle, with a triple dead-heat for second between Bourra Tomacha, Epaulette and Garry Owen. The race's distance was shortened to 7 furlongs"
"in National Hunt Flat races, also known as ""bumpers"". On his debut at Naas Racecourse on 12 February 1997, he started at odds of 20/1 and finished ninth of the twenty four runners, eighteen lengths behind the winner Mount Druid. He was well beaten in further bumpers at Naas (behind the future Grand National winner Amberleigh House), Cork and Thurles, before recording his first success in a race confined to female riders at Limerick Racecourse on 27 December. Ridden by Aileen Sloan-Lee he won ""easily"" by nine lengths from thirteen opponents at odds of 6/1. Michael Bowe later recalled ""I"
"Tiffin (1928), Myrobella (1932), Tudor Minstrel (1946) and Belle of All (1950). National Stakes (Sandown Park) The National Stakes is a Listed flat horse race in Great Britain open to horses aged two years old. It is run at Sandown Park over a distance of 5 furlongs and 10 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year at the end of May. The race was first run in 1889 and was known as the ""National Breeders' Produce Stakes"" until 1959. In 1932 it was ""the most valuable two-year-old race on the English calendar"". Previous winners include Pretty"
"Grade 1-3 National Hunt races and the list of Group 1-3 Flat races The capital of National Hunt racing in the UK is Cheltenham Racecourse, in the Cotswolds, which hosts the Cheltenham Festival in the third week of March each year, as well as other important fixtures during the NH calendar. There are numerous well-known trainers operating in the Cotswolds including Jonjo O'Neill, Richard Phillips, Tom George, Nigel Twiston-Davies, and latterly Kim Bailey. The highlight of the Cheltenham Festival is the Gold Cup. All races run at Cheltenham finish with a long uphill run-in in front of the stands. The"
"in pedigree or phenotype. Castration may allow a stallion to live peacefully with other horses, allowing a more social and comfortable existence. Under British National Hunt racing (i.e. Steeplechase) rules, to minimize the health and safety risk for horses, riders, and spectators, nearly all participating horses are geldings. On the other hand, in other parts of Europe, geldings are excluded from many of the most prestigious flat races including the Classics and the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (with an exception being the French classic Prix Royal-Oak, open to geldings since 1986). In North American Thoroughbred racing, geldings, if otherwise"
"horse racing, in Great Britain and Ireland it is used to describe the racing season that comes after the jumps racing which is traditionally held over the winter period. Many different horse breeds are used in flat racing worldwide, but the Thoroughbred is the most dominant. The races take place on track surfaces suitable for horses. Worldwide, the most common is a natural grass surface, called ""turf"". In North America, the most common surface is a harrowed ""dirt"" surface, often based primarily on a mixture of sand and local soil. Most winter flat races in Britain and other parts of"
"fear into the most professional of jockeys. All fences bar the water jump are covered with spruce, unlike at any other course in British National Hunt racing. Four other races take place over the National fences. These are the Topham Chase (formerly known as the John Hughes Trophy Chase) and the Fox Hunters' Chase at the Grand National meeting, and the Grand Sefton Handicap Chase and Becher Chase in the December meeting. Within the large National course there is also the smaller Mildmay course containing hurdles and fences. These fences are made of traditional National Hunt material. The National and"